Who is truly disrespectful?

Lin Xi's voice was not loud, yet it resonated with remarkable strength, for it spoke the truth. From beginning to end, neither Qin Xiyue nor Liu Ziyu had ever witnessed his cultivation firsthand; any judgments they made were merely subjective assumptions.

The path fell into a profound silence due to the weight of his words.

"Do you train diligently?" A young man from the Medicinal Herbs Department, known for his golden spoon, felt embarrassed by the sudden silence that Lin Xi's words had imposed on the group. Stepping forward with a cold smirk, he remarked, "If you train hard every day yet only possess such meager skills, what future could you possibly have?"

"Is having a future the only reason to befriend someone, while lacking one renders them unworthy?" Lin Xi cast a calm glance at the golden spoon youth and Liu Ziyu beside him, responding with indifference. "If this is your ingrained value system, why even bring cultivation into the conversation?"

The renowned beauty of the academy, Qin Xiyue, furrowed her brows deeply. Lin Xi's retort was sharp and seemed somewhat impolite; however, it also reminded her that her own words had been equally disrespectful. For the first time, she regarded Lin Xi directly and said earnestly, "I, Qin Xiyue, do not judge others based solely on their background or potential. If you can prove that you are not as lazy as I suggested and demonstrate that you indeed train diligently, I will reconsider my opinion of you and apologize for my earlier remarks."

"And how would I prove that?" Lin Xi glanced at the strikingly beautiful woman, whose allure surpassed even that of movie stars from his previous world, and with a slight smile and a hint of natural pride, he replied, "Your opinions of me are merely reflections of your own thoughts. If every unrelated person held an opinion about me, would I have to prove myself to each one? How could I possibly find the time for that?"

His tone remained remarkably calm, yet it struck with considerable impact against those who had previously looked down upon him. Several golden spoon youths from the Medicinal Herbs Department wore stern expressions, and Liu Ziyu frowned slightly, saying, "Xiyue is graciously offering you a chance to defend yourself, Lin Xi. You are being rather disrespectful."

Lin Xi regarded Liu Ziyu with a mocking smile. "Disrespectful? You all surrounded me and spoke at length, yet that is not considered disrespect? One should only care about the opinions of those they value. If I were to concern myself with everyone's views, wouldn't that be exhausting and torturous? Had it not been for Gao Yanan's dispute with you, I wouldn't even bother with this trivial conversation."

"As for proof..." Lin Xi turned his gaze briefly to Qin Xiyue, whose face was betraying a hint of anger, then shifted back to Gao Yanan, who was watching him intently. With a touch of pride, he mused aloud, "This cultivation test is not a one-time affair... There will naturally be opportunities for proof in the future. If, one day, my skills surpass yours, how will you respond then?"

"Let's leave," he concluded, nodding at Gao Yanan before striding away.

Gao Yanan nodded in return and followed suit.

Watching Gao Yanan depart with Lin Xi, Liu Ziyu felt an inexplicable surge of anger welling up within him, his expression darkening. "What an interesting claim about future proof. I wonder how long that will take. Allow me to inform you that I currently possess over two hundred pounds of strength, and my cultivation has surpassed the mid-level Soul Warrior stage. Furthermore, I have achieved nine five-star exits in the Trial Valley. With this in mind, do you still dare to speak so arrogantly? When do you believe you will surpass me?"

Lin Xi paused on the mountain path leading to the Poison Valley. 

For a moment, his silence and slightly stiff posture sent a misleading signal to Liu Ziyu and the others, who thought they had struck a nerve, believing he was merely sharp-tongued, using words to mask his own weakness and incompetence.

Expressions of satisfaction and disdain began to appear on Liu Ziyu and his companions' faces, while Qin Xiyue's demeanor grew even colder.

Yet, Lin Xi turned back to face Liu Ziyu, wearing an expression thick with mockery and confidence. "Is your record and the status of mid-level Soul Warrior truly your pride? I detest unnecessary troubles and people like you. You asked how long it would take me? I propose a wager: within a month, I will shatter your pride. My only request will be that the next time I am present, I do not wish to see you. Please leave voluntarily upon spotting me."

The mountain path fell silent once more.

Liu Ziyu and the golden spoon youths beside him wore grim expressions, and a hint of uncontrollable shame and anger flushed Liu Ziyu's fair face. How dare a mere ninety-pound chosen one, a country bumpkin, speak to him in such a condescending manner!

Considering that Qin Xiyue and Gao Yanan were present, Liu Ziyu forced himself to suppress the venomous words threatening to escape his lips, striving to appear calm and magnanimous as he replied coldly, "Very well, I shall await your surpassing of me in a month. But should you fail to fulfill your boast, I will have but one request: you must publicly admit before all the students of the Medicinal Herbs Department that you are merely a sharp-tongued pretender, a pitiful creature."

Lin Xi remained unfazed, merely smiling slightly as he nodded at Qin Xiyue. "If that is the case, I would appreciate it if you, Qin Xiyue, and the rest would bear witness."

"Do you truly believe you can ascend from a novice Soul Warrior to a mid-level one in just a month?" Qin Xiyue bit her lip, her anger boiling within her. She no longer spoke but nodded curtly and turned away, refusing to look at Lin Xi.

"Then it is settled," Lin Xi said meaningfully, casting a glance at Liu Ziyu and Qin Xiyue before continuing toward the Poison Valley.

"Lin Xi... Yanan!" 

Jiang Yuer, witnessing the stalemate, felt a surge of urgency. She hesitated for a moment, wanting to follow but feeling apprehensive.

"Jiang Yuer, will you accompany Gao Yanan or join me in the Poison Valley? You must decide now," Qin Xiyue stated coldly. "I do not wish for you to say anything further."

Upon hearing Qin Xiyue's words, Jiang Yuer looked at her resolute expression, then at Gao Yanan, who was walking alongside Lin Xi. Her lips trembled, her face flushed, as if she might cry from the pressure and anxiety. Yet, recalling that Lin Xi had not wronged her and remembering his jokes from the other day, she softly said to Qin Xiyue, "I'm sorry..." Then, lowering her gaze, she hurried after Gao Yanan and Lin Xi.

"Is it wrong for a gentleman to avoid associating with shameless individuals, students who know neither honor nor disgrace?" In her peripheral vision, Qin Xiyue watched as even Jiang Yuer followed Gao Yanan, her expression growing icier, yet her eyes reflected a mix of anger and forlornness directed at Lin Xi.

Suppressing his displeasure, Liu Ziyu looked at the stunningly beautiful Qin Xiyue and said, "Let's depart, Xiyue. You need not be angry over such trivial matters."

"You all may go on ahead. I will join shortly," she replied, leaving him feeling stiffened, with an inexplicable fire igniting within him.

...

"Lin Xi, do you truly have the confidence to surpass Liu Ziyu within a month?" Gao Yanan asked softly as they walked side by side along the mountain path adorned with purple butterfly flowers. Earlier, when Qin Xiyue had pressured her, she had indeed felt displeased, but her nature was to let go of grievances quickly. Now, her curiosity was piqued by Lin Xi's immense confidence.

Lin Xi smiled slightly, saying, "There are reasons I cannot disclose at the moment, but I assure you, I will never lie to you. I genuinely believe I can completely surpass him within a month, whether in martial skills, cultivation, or so-called overall combat strength."

"It seems you harbor many secrets," Gao Yanan mused, her brow slightly furrowed. As she contemplated, her expression became even more enchanting than usual, filling Lin Xi with a sense of tranquility.

Lin Xi observed her slightly knitted brow and said earnestly, "Everyone has their little secrets, don't they?"

"You are right; everyone possesses their own little secrets," Gao Yanan agreed, nodding. "I appreciate your perspective... rather than fabricating lies, it's better to simply state that something cannot be disclosed."

After a brief pause, Gao Yanan softly added, "I promise I will not speak untruths either... Lin Xi, can you guarantee that you will never lie to me in the future?"

Though her words were simple, they stirred an unusual emotion within Lin Xi. He looked at this beautiful and spirited woman and nodded earnestly. "I promise I will never tell you a lie."

"I also promise not to lie to you." A timid voice chimed in.

Seeing Jiang Yuer, who spoke shyly, Lin Xi couldn't help but smile at her timid demeanor. 

Originally, his only enemies were the "Blades and Spears" stone hall and Xu Shengmo in the realm of cultivation. However, since Liu Ziyu had chosen to intervene and challenge him regarding his cultivation and achievements... now that this matter involved Gao Yanan and Jiang Yuer, Lin Xi felt compelled to teach Liu Ziyu and his group an unforgettable lesson.

Although Liu Ziyu had already achieved mid-level Soul Warrior status and possessed over two hundred pounds of strength, Lin Xi's actual strength was nearing one hundred fifty pounds, and he still had one academic credit unspent.

According to An Keyi's estimates, if Lin Xi were to acquire another academic credit to exchange for a Mountain Sea Dingxiang Pill, given his qualifications, he should be able to reach over one hundred eighty pounds of strength... Based on Lin Xi's own feelings, he believed that within ten days, he could potentially break the record of the "Blades and Spears," just as he had previously shattered the record for direct strikes.

Thus, as long as he could achieve consecutive five-star records in the Trial Valley, surpassing Liu Ziyu within a month would not pose a significant challenge.

"What began as a simple walk into the valley has turned into such complexity... Since we are discussing achievements, let's see whose records truly shine," Lin Xi declared proudly as he strode along the mountain path. Another source of pride for him was that Tong Wei had once mentioned that his meditation training time was the longest in the academy, meaning that even without relying on any spiritual herbs, he was already the fastest cultivator among this year's newcomers.